Background

In the early 1970s, concern over our growing dependence on imported petroleum, coupled with concerns about our deteriorating air quality due to emissions from combustion of fossil fuels, spurred the Federal government to act. The timeline below provides policy and programmatic highlights for federally supported hydrogen and fuel cell R&D over the last three decades.

Federal Support for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell R&D

Directed Energy Secretary to "conduct a research and development program—in consultation with other federal agencies and the private sector—on technologies related to the production, purification, distribution, storage, and use of hydrogen energy, fuel cells, and related infrastructure."